Controller for fluid pressure clutches



Jan. 27, 1942.

w. P. SCHMI'I'I'ER EIALI CONTROLLER FOR FLUID'PRESSURE GLUTCHES Filed Nov. 27, 1939 Patented Jan. 27, 1942 CONTROLLER. FOR FLUID PRESSURE CLUTCHES waiter i. scnmitcer, wauwatosa, ana Daniel M. Schwartz, Shorewood, Wis., assignors to The Falk Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application November 27, 1939, Serial No. 306,226

4Claims.

This ,invention relates to controllers for fluid pressure clutches and the like. I In the copending application of Walter P.

l Schmitter, Serial No. 301,930, led October 30,

1939, a reversible power transmission is shown involving a pair of fluid pressure clutches selectively operable to drive the transmission in either forward or reverse direction. In the arrangement therein disclosed lluid pressure is admitted to the clutches through separate channels in the driven rotating part and through a rotating joint having dual passages affording separate communication between the channels and pressure source. Exhaust of iluid pressure from the clutches is also effected through these channels and the passages in the joint.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel combination andarrangement of parts by which a two-passage rotating joint may be avoided.

- Another object is to avoid the use of two separate fluid conducting channels in the driven rotating part. This we accomplish by arranging a uid pressure distributing valve concentrically within the clutches.

IAnother object is to provide a novel fluid control valve for combination with the rotating part in a manner to permit ready adjustment and control of the valve during operation.

Other more specic objects and advantages will appear from the following description of a y fluid controller constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a clutch-controlledl reversible power transmission equipped with a controller embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the controller on a larger scale. A

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the controller illustrating asecond position of the valve.

thereof. The inner member Il of a fluid pressure clutch is keyed or otherwise fixed to the projected end of the pinion shaft II, the outer member I5 of the clutch being carried by the driver I3 and being provided with an annular flexible gland I6 of rubber or the like adapted to be. expanded into gripping contact withthe inner clutch member Il to thereby operatively connect the driver I3 to the shaft II to ellect forward operation thereof. A

The shaft Il also supports the inner member I1 of a second similar clutch freely rotatable -thereon and adapted tobe engaged by'a gland I8 mounted on` the outer clutch member I9 carried by the driver I3. The inner member I1 of the second clutch is operatively connected to the shaft Il through a train of bevel gears 2|! byl which the shaft is driven reversely.

In this instance both clutches are controlled by a valve disposed coaxially of the clutches and of the shaft I I and free to rotate with the driver I3 and consequently with the clutch glands I6 and I8. The valve selected for illustration in- For purposes of illustration and explanation,

acontroller constructed in Aaccordance with the present invention is shown in Fig. 1 applied to a reversible power transmission substantially like that disclosed in the application `hereinabove identified.

The transmission includes a speed reduction gear set of which the pinion Il is an element, the Vpinion being carried by a hollow integral shaft Il journalled in appropriate bearings, one of which is shown at I2, and projecting forwardly .toward arotary driver/I3 disposed coaxially cludes a substantially cylindrical body portion or core 2l, attached at its vrear end to a tube 22 which extendsaxially through the shaft II, and provided at its forward end with la hollow head 23 attached thereto. 'I'he valve body 2| is retained -against axial displacement by the forward end 2l of a cage 25 within which the valve is freely rotatable, the cage Abeing mounted on the end of the shaft II and locked to the hub of the inner clutch member Il for rotation therewith.

The valve shown also includes a surrounding sleeve member 26 which extends rearwardly from the valve body 2l and rotates therewith, and which is journalled within an appropriate bearing 21 within the shaft Il so as to ail'ord free relative rotation and axial movement between the member 26 andshaft. A bushing 28 between the member 26 and tube 22 serves to maintain a concentric or coaxial relation between the valve body 2l and surrounding sleeve, while permitting the latter to move axially of the valve body, the longitudinal position .of the sleeve member 26 being controlled from the opposite end of the shaft II through appropriate means such as a tube 2! attached thereto and extending through the shaft. y

`The sleeve member 26 is provided with an annular chamber 30 surrounding the valve body 2| land equipped with appropriate leak-proof end seals 3| which are maintained in position by an intermediate spring 32. and effectively maintained sealing contact with the valve body and with the chamber end walls by the fluid pressure in said chamber. Fluid pressure is maintained in the chamber 30, supplied thereto from an appropriate source through the tube 22 and through a channel 33 and radial ports 34 formed in the valve body. Other radial ports 35 communicate through a channel 36 and nipple 31 with a pipe 38 which, in turn, communicates through channels 33 with the gland I6 of one of the clutches. A third set of radial ports 40 communicate through channels 4I and the hollow head 23 with a pipe 42 which, in turn, communicates through channels 43 with the gland I8 of the other clutch.

In the valve shown, the ports 34 are disposed between the ports 35 and ports 4U, so that when the sleeve member 26 is in the advanced position of Fig. 2, the ports 35 communicate with the port 34 through the chamber 30 and the ports 40 communicate with an annular channel 44 and exhaust ports 45 formed in the member 26. In this position of the member 26, fluid pressure is transmitted from the ports 34 to the clutch gland I6, while any pressure in the other clutch gland I8 is dissipated through the ports 40 and 45. When the member 26 is retracted into the position of Fig. 3, the chamber 30 communicates with ports 40 and fluid pressure is transmitted therethrough to the clutch gland I8, While ports 35 are uncovered and any pressure in the clutch gland I6 is dissipated therethrough.

It will thus be noted that, When the valve member 26 is in the advanced position of Fig. 2, the clutch gland I6 is expanded to close that clutch and to thereby eiect rotation of the inner clutch member I4 and shaft II in one direction, the clutch gland I8 being deflated so that the other inner clutch member I1 is free to rotate in an opposite direction; and when the valve member' 25 is in the retracted position of Fig. 3, the clutch gland I8 is expanded to close that clutch and thereby effect rotation of the shaft II in a reverse direction, the clutch gland I6 being deflated so that the inner member I4 of the other clutch is free to rotate reversely with the shaft II. It will also be noted that by arranging the valve rather close to the clutches, the volumetric capacity of the connections'between it and the clutch glands I6 and I8 may be reduced to a minimiun, thereby reducing the time required to expand or deflate the clutch glands and consequently materially reducing the time required to reverse the direction of operation ofy the transmission. It will be further noted that the valve may be readilyv shifted into either extreme position by actuation of the tube 29 from the opposite end of the shaft I I.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove speciflcally described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in' the appended claims.

We claim:

l. Thecombinationwith a rotary fluid pressure clutching device, of a control valve rotatable therewith and comprising two membersone movable axially relative to the other, one of said of said member communicating with said con`I duit,'said member having a second port therein:A spaced lengthwise of said member from said `first named port, said body member having a second conduit extending lengthwise thereof and connected to said second port, 'said member also hav-` ing a third port disposed intermediate said first and second ports and-having a third conduit extending lengthwise thereof and connected to said third port, and a sleeve member encircling said body member, one of said members being length- Wise movable relative to the other whereby said first named port is alternately covered and un' covered to expose said port to the open air, said sleeve member also having means for connecting said second port to the outerl air when said first port is covered by said sleeve, said sleeve member also having means for connecting said third port with either of said first named ports alternately in response to said relative movement of said members.

3. In a device of the character described th combination of a torque transmitting shaft, a separately rotatable valve mounted adjacent one end of said shaft coaxially therewith, said valve including an axially fixed member having a fluid supply port and a plurality of outlet ports, a fluid supply conduit extending from said valve coaxlally through said shaft to an external fluid supply source, a channelled member surrounding said axially fixed member and axially movable relative thereto to thereby connect said fluid supply port to said fluid outlet ports selectively, and a sleeve surrounding. said fluid supply conduit and extending through said shaft for actuating said movable member.

4. The combination with a pair of rotary uid pressure clutching devices, of a control valve disposed coaxially of said clutches, said valve comprising `an inner member rotatable With said devices and having two ports respectively communicating therewith, said inner member also having a port communicating with a fluid pressure source, said valve also comprising an outer member, one of said members being axially movable relative to the other of said members, means in said outer member for connecting said last named port to one or the other of said flrst named ports in response to relative axial movement between said members, said first named ports being relatively disposed so that one is open to exhaust when the other is connected to said last named port.

WALTER P. scHMrT'rEa DANIEL M. SCHWARTZ. 

